“The decision to move from a full-time executive career to a plural portfolio is a very personal journey, but reading the experiences of others who have made that journey provides a unique insight into their thinking and helps you define your own course, what matters to you, and what you do next.” – Andrew Parker, Company Secretary, BT Group plc “This book provides insight and practical advice that is invaluable to the many individuals who have the opportunity to shape second, even third careers, in new and imaginative ways.” – Cathy Turner, former Group HR Director, Barclays PLC “The book distills the experiences of interesting leaders who have gone on to remake their professional lives in some inspiring ways. Read it, and you will find yourself thinking about making such a change yourself.” – Carolyn Makinson, Executive Director, International Rescue Committee UK, and Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

October 2011 | 978-0-230-29125-6 | Hardback

REDEFINE YOUR FUTURE NOW

To save 30% (RRP: £26.00) just enter the code WHATSNXT2011 when you order online at “What’s Next? clarified my nebulous notions on how I could www.palgrave.com start taking steps towards organizing my activities for a new before 31/12/2011 chapter. I approach work differently now, with one eye on

the future, keeping my ears open to possibilities, and taking a creative approach to defining this uncharted territory. A research project in itself! A must read for all professionals.” - Richard Moreau MD. Director of Research. INSERM Centre de Recherche Biomedicale III, University Paris VII Masters Professor. Associate Editor Journal of Hepatology

The traditional linear career path is becoming a thing of the past in the 21st century. This thought-provoking and engaging book follows one of the first groups of professional Boomers as they step away from the full time linear path in their late careers into an uncharted stage to redefine their relationship with work, family and passions and defy retirement in the traditional sense of the word. In interviews with Fortune 500, FTSE 250, CAC 40 CEO’s, CHRO’s and Divisional Heads as well as leading Politicians, Psychologists, Scientists and Entrepreneurs from the US, Europe and Asia, the reader discovers how these individuals found themselves nearing the glass ceiling of age and facing traditional retirement after decades in successful careers. But nothing about this traditional ‘next step’ corresponded to their aspirations or potential. All of them still felt in the prime of life, had no intention of getting in the back seat and playing a passive role, but no longer wished to pursue the all-consuming corporate, academic or industrial career to its bitter end. In these interviews the desire for plurality and to extend ‘the prime of life’ by a decade or more has meant Non-Executive Board work or applying business expertise in a non-profit environment for some, living out a passion, reconnecting with family or academic work for others, and for most, a little of each. All the choices reveal a deeper and urgent desire to take control and fulfil some of the dreams that were set aside when the Boomer generation dove head first into their careers: resolving the work-life balance, making a difference and doing it their way. Using the wisdom and lessons learned from these interviews, the authors identify common themes and strategies to provide the reader with a practical roadmap to help transition from a full time professional career into this plural lifestyle.

Dona Roche-Tarry is Managing Partner of the European Board Practice for CTPartners. She has over 10 years of experience in talent advisory services and has successfully completed assignments for Non Executive Directors, Chairmen, CEOs, C-suite and Managing Directors across Europe and the United States. Dona has assisted large public multinationals and high growth emerging companies to strategically structure their boards and leadership teams. She is a certified executive coach and advises senior executives across industry sectors. Prior to CTPartners, Dona was with Heidrick and Struggles as Managing Partner, Barclays Plc. as Director of Human Resources in the Commercial Bank reporting to the CEO and in her earlier career was General Manager at British Telecom. She has a Bachelor of Science from University of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and was a Trustee of The Work Foundation. Dale Roche-Lebrec is a Freelance Writer, Editor and Translator. She spent 15 years working for France Innovation Scientifique et Transfert, the technology transfer affiliate of the CNRS, the largest French scientific research institute, where she negotiated patent licenses, performed industrial partner searches and was Director of Operations. Prior to this Dale was Managing Editor for the Journal of Hepatology and was an editor and translator for various other scientific journals, websites and books. She transitioned out of her full-time career in 2007 and today is pursuing the plural lifestyle described in What’s Next? Dale has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Connecticut a Master’s Degree from University of Paris VII in Linguistics and a Diplôme d’études Approfondies from the University Paris VII in Literature